da marjack bet： Worcestershire will start the final day of the Championship match at Bristolwith fingers crossed for some fine Bank Holiday weather
Richard Latham27-May-2001Worcestershire will start the final day of the Championship match at Bristolwith fingers crossed for some fine Bank Holiday weather.Only some unseasonal rain can surely stand between them and victory over aGloucestershire side again failing miserably to match their one-day form infour-day cricket.The home side were 35-3, chasing an unlikely target of 408, when bad lightended a third day’s play that was as grey as the weather six overs early.Andy Bichel had figures of 2-7, having sent back Tim Hancock and MattWindows, while Alamgir Sheriyar accounted for Dominic Hewson, with none ofthe top three batsmen managing double figures.Kim Barnett and Chris Taylor were only too glad to go off when offered thelight. The pitch is wearing and Graeme Hick’s decision not to enforce thefollow-on on will prove sound enough – given good weather.It may, however, have prolonged the game, as Gloucestershire’s frail battingsuggested they might have been blown away had they been put straight inagain on Saturday evening.As it was, Worcestershire resumed their second innings on 21-2 and steadilybatted their opponents out of the game.Philip Weston scored his second fifty of the game, another painstakingeffort off 132 balls, while David Leatherdale (41), Bichel (37) and SteveRhodes (32 not out) all made valuable contributions.It was slow going most of the time as the visitors batted on until fourovers after tea before declaring on 256-8.But that won’t worry Hick if his bowlers do the business on the final day.